Why Did Snape Kill Dumbledore? The Tragic Truth Revealed

Initially, I, like many others, saw Severus Snape through Harry’s perspective as a formidable antagonist. The resemblance between Snape and Harry’s father, the notorious James Potter, who tormented him during their Hogwarts years, certainly didn’t help improve my initial impression. But little did we know, there was an intricate tapestry to Snape’s story that surpassed our wildest imaginations.

The narrative hinted at Snape being a secret double agent, working undercover for Dumbledore and relaying the Dark Lord’s movements while feeding Voldemort as much misinformation about the resistance as possible. Yet, there were numerous individuals who doubted Snape’s loyalty towards Dumbledore, including Harry and his comrades.

In the Harry Potter films, Alan Rickman skillfully embodied the complex character of Snape. As we prepare for the TV series, Paapa Essiedu takes on the challenge of portraying this emotionally heavy role. One particularly distressing act by Snape, from Harry’s perspective, was the cold-blooded murder of Albus Dumbledore, an event that left viewers puzzled and dismayed. Throughout his life, Severus Snape showed nothing but contempt towards Harry due to their resemblance to James Potter. However, hidden beneath his apparent hostility, Snape secretly proved to be a fiercely loyal ally who was unknown to Harry. The enigma surrounding Professor Snape is immense, yet the primary mystery that persists is: Why did Snape kill Dumbledore?

It Was Difficult for Harry to Believe Snape Was Anything Other Than a Villain

No Matter How Often Dumbledore Reassured Harry, He Didn’t Recognize Snape as an Ally

At Hogwarts school, Harry was not aware that Professor Snape, who initially seemed hostile towards him, was secretly looking out for him all along. From their first encounter in the dining hall, Snape’s disapproval was palpable, and he often taunted Harry about his celebrity status. Throughout the school year, it became evident that Snape harbored a bias against Harry, viewing him as arrogant and demanding special treatment because of his fame as the Boy Who Lived. However, it wasn’t until Harry’s fifth year that Snape revealed both his feelings and the reason for them to Harry.

It can’t be ignored that Harry sometimes came across as arrogant, and he frequently found himself at the heart of the action when things went awry at Hogwarts. From the troll in the dungeon during his first year, to mysteriously having his name entered into the Goblet of Fire during his fourth year – wherever there was chaos, Harry Potter wasn’t just a participant; he was usually the instigator. What might appear as a knack for seeking attention according to Snape, was more often than not beyond Harry’s control. However, Snape’s history with James Potter and the Marauders tainted his perspective of Harry and his companions.

Over time, due to multiple conflicts like Snape threatening to use Veritaserum or accusing Harry of stealing potion ingredients, it’s understandable why both Harry and his supporters would perceive him as a villain initially. It seemed improbable that he could ever be seen as a mentor, but in the end, Snape turned out to be Harry’s teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Despite serving as a source of torment, Snape personally tutored Harry in Legilimency. Moreover, it was under his guidance that Harry managed to pass sixth-year potions and survive a dangerous confrontation with Draco Malfoy in the bathroom.

Instead of his actions contradicting Harry’s suspicions about Snape’s villainy, they actually seemed to reinforce them. It wasn’t difficult at all for Harry to assume that Snape had been maintaining a facade and plotting against Dumbledore from the very beginning. When he cast the killing curse on Hogwarts’ headmaster, as Harry watched secretly, it only served to validate every suspicion Harry had ever harbored about Severus Snape.

Why Does Snape Kill Dumbledore?

By the Time Harry Found Out Why, It Would Be Too Late to Make Amends

At the outset of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, Harry encounters Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy. Narcissa is deeply concerned for her son, Draco, as he has been assigned a mission by the Dark Lord that appears to be unachievable. To solidify his loyalty, Draco is required to assassinate Albus Dumbledore and clear the path for the Death Eaters to invade Hogwarts. Snape assures Draco’s protection and offers to absolve him from a task whose very attempts would likely leave lasting emotional scars. They formalize their agreement with an Unbreakable Vow, a solemn pledge so potent that if either party were to break it, they would perish.

During the entire school year, Snape followed Draco closely, intending to prevent him from fulfilling the Dark Lord’s assignment. When the confrontation finally arrived, Snape lived up to his promise and instead of causing Draco emotional distress through murder, he spared him. This action fueled Harry’s suspicions that Snape had been working against Dumbledore all along, but there were aspects of the puzzle that Harry was not aware of. A significant piece of information that eluded Harry was that due to the curse on his hand, Snape had asked to be killed at the appropriate time to relieve Draco of a heavy burden.

Dumbledore’s Death Was Inevitable, and Snape’s Act Against Him a Kindness

Snape Didn’t Want to Kill Dumbledore, But He Had No Choice

Before his demise, Dumbledore spent considerable time locating Horcruxes, believing that unraveling their mysteries would enhance Harry and the Wizarding World’s chances against Voldemort. Upon finding Marvolo Gaunt’s ring containing a Resurrection Stone, Dumbledore initially felt drawn to it, but his imprudent decision to wear the ring led to Voldemort’s deadly curse inflicting him. In the end, Dumbledore’s hand tissue in his right hand turned black and died as a result of Voldemort’s dark magic, with the curse progressively spreading throughout his body thereafter.

Gratefully, Snape was able to momentarily halt the curse’s impact using a puzzling “golden potion,” thus granting the Headmaster an additional year to live compared to what would have been expected otherwise. During their discussions about the impending outcome of this curse, Dumbledore additionally requested that Snape end his life when the appropriate moment arrived. This act would shield Draco from long-term damage, and more importantly, demonstrate Snape’s allegiance to the Dark Lord during a crucial period. Sadly, showing loyalty to Voldemort meant assuming the role of a wicked murderer and betrayer to everyone he had ever known and collaborated with at Hogwarts. Only Dumbledore was aware of this secret, and he carried it with him until his death.

What Spell Did Snape Use to Kill Dumbledore?

The Unforgivable Curse Snape Used Against Dumbledore Was Quick & Painless

In the realm known as the Wizarding World, there are three spells considered Unforgivable: the Agonizing Charm (Cruciatus Curse), the Mind-Binding Charm (Imperius Curse), and the Destructive Charm (Killing Curse). When Snape used the Killing Curse to kill Dumbledore, he uttered the incantation Avada Kedavra. Although it is unforgivable, Avada Kedavra offers a swift and painless demise, thereby alleviating Dumbledore’s suffering – essentially performing a form of magical mercy-killing.

During Voldemort’s initial reign of fear, his followers, the Death Eaters, were infamous for employing cruel tactics such as the Cruciatus Curse to torment and torture victims. Before ultimately killing their targets with the Avada Kedavra Curse, they often used this method. However, following Voldemort’s first death, some Death Eaters claimed that they were merely acting under the Dark Lord’s control when committing these heinous deeds. In most cases, though, this was not accurate.

Why Did Harry Name His Son After Snape?

Harry Named His Son After Two of the Bravest Men He’d Ever Known

After all was revealed, it turned out that Snape had been disloyal to Voldemort in the past. Burdened by guilt for informing Voldemort about the Prophecy that led to Lily’s death, Snape spent years secretly working against the Dark Lord. Tragically, Voldemort ended Snape’s life because he coveted control over the Elder Wand. In his dying moments, Snape asked Harry to collect his tears as they would unveil the truth.

Learning the truth about Snape left a heavy impact. Despite their conflicts and the apparent hostility throughout the years, it turned out that Snape had always cared for Harry – the son of the woman he deeply loved. He came to understand that Snape was an extraordinarily brave individual, and he desired to pay tribute to his memory by naming his youngest son after two remarkable Hogwarts headmasters: Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape himself.

Snape Indirectly Saved Draco Malfoy’s Life By Killing Dumbledore

He Prevented the Boy From Turning Into a Monster

In the “Harry Potter” series, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” stands out as it delves deeply into the histories and personalities of main characters such as Dumbledore, Tom Riddle, Snape, and Draco. The book provides a detailed look at Draco’s emotional struggles and his oppressive family background. Although it may be difficult to sympathize with him given the terrible mission he was given – to harm Dumbledore – readers can still understand Draco’s insecurities and fears. Beneath all this, it becomes clear that deep down, Draco didn’t want to be evil; rather, he had been pushed into revealing his darkest side since his childhood days.

If Snape hadn’t taken Dumbledore’s life instead, Draco undoubtedly would have met a tragic end due to his shortcomings, and the Elder Wand would have fallen into Voldemort’s possession. In essence, Snape acted to save Draco and shield the entire Wizarding World from the clutches of darkness.

Snape’s Redemption Cost Him His Life in Harry Potter

He Made Secret Arrangements to Help Harry Before His Time Came

Readers will long recall Snape as one of the most heartbreaking characters in the “Harry Potter” series, due to his frosty demeanor and haughty behavior often overshadowing the fact that he bore one of the heaviest burdens in the battle against Voldemort. Dumbledore served as Snape’s guide and confidant. Despite understanding that taking Dumbledore’s life would be a compassionate act – aware that he was enduring pain from the curse on his hand – Snape had to shoulder the burden of being branded a betrayer. He continued to live as a hero, but feared that the truth about him would never surface.

In the story of “Harry Potter,” Snape sacrificed everything dear to him to grant Dumbledore’s wish, ultimately saving Draco’s life and thwarting Voldemort’s plan for the Elder Wand. This selfless act marked Snape’s transformation, altering the tide of the war but also claiming his life. Beneath his cold exterior, Snape was well aware that his days were numbered as long as Voldemort sought the Elder Wand. As Headmaster of Hogwarts for a short while, Snape discreetly set up precautions to protect students and aid Harry, using his Patronus to guide Harry to the Sword of Gryffindor. In the end, when Voldemort ended his life, Snape accepted his fate, knowing he had done everything within his power to support Harry and the Order of the Phoenix.

What Was Snape’s Role In The Cursed Child’s Alternate Timeline?

He Helped Scorpius Malfoy Fix the Broken Timeline

Concurrently with the epilogue of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” approximately 19 years after Voldemort’s demise, the narrative unfolds. In this story, Scorpius Hyperion Malfoy and Albus Severus Potter take center stage as they nurture a blossoming friendship. This tale not only mends the animosity between the Malfoy and Potter lineages but also underscores how certain key characters share identical ambitions amidst dire circumstances. In their quest to rescue Cedric Diggory using a Time-Turner, both Albus and Scorpius inadvertently create a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions.

In a different phrasing: At the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry met his demise, which led to Albus never being born, allowing Voldemort to take control of the magical world. Many other valiant characters had also perished, yet Snape survived as the Potions Master at Hogwarts. Eventually, Scorpius persuades Snape to aid him in altering time, and ultimately, Snape lays down his life to assist Scorpius’ escape. Just prior to the Dementors extinguishing his spirit, Snape requests that Scorpius inform Albus Severus of how proud he is that he bears his name. He remained a hero until the very last moments of every possible reality.

2025-04-30 17:12